The return rate is lower than the previous phone, and the call drop rate is well within margin of error compared to the previous phone. In fact, if you factor in 4x fewer cases on the new phone then its actually dropping fewer calls.

While the components are most likely molded, they still have to be assembled.

In volume, this kind of case can be made very inexpensively, even with hand assembly and metal components. There are larger and more complex consumer items that are also made inexpensively, allowing tremendous mark-ups.

The return rate is lower than the previous phone, and the call drop rate is well within margin of error compared to the previous phone. In fact, if you factor in 4x fewer cases on the new phone then its actually dropping fewer calls.

When did the phone go on sale again? What's the 30 day mark? Oh right...

Lets take a closer look at return numbers when they start to become relevant.

So all of you who stated here that you never had issues with attenuation( Solipsism, etc. ), won't be

getting the free case, right? Right.. that's what I thought.

Gee, Boogerman, aren't you just assuming that others have the same morals and ethics as yours?

Hey, I bought a case from Radio Shack-- an Incipio DermaSHOT.

I bought it to protect the phone-- because soccer season is starting and I will be out and about a lot (4 practices and 2 games each week).

I bought a case for every iPhone I've owned.

I was hoping to buy a case with an external battery (like the Mophie JuicePack Air for the 3G and 3GS).

But nothing like that is available, yet, for the iP4. When I find a good one I will buy it! Some of those Saturday soccer games result in a 12-hour day. I plan to use the iP4 camera and the iPad CCC to capture extemperaneous videos while using my Panny VideoCam for more planned shotes. Either me, or one of the grand kids will be using the iP4.

Protection is a good thing

.

"Swift generally gets you to the right way much quicker." - auxio -

"The perfect [birth]day -- A little playtime, a good poop, and a long nap." - Tomato Greeting Cards -

10:16AM "And we had a reporting error -- we screwed up on our algorithm. Some of these other phones may be too generous. Our choice was to put the correct algorithm in. And we did that with the new update. You'll still see a drop... we haven't figured out a way around the laws of physics yet."

10:36AM "We do this because we love our users, and if we screw up, we pick ourselves up and we try harder. And when we succeed, they reward us by staying our users. ..."

I wonder what are the odds that they do a "silent" hardware update, that is, change the hardware in new releases but don't announce it so that people don't return the phones trying to get the new version?

Jobs was pretty vague about hardware updates, I'm sure intentionally.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonymouse

Well, I think he just showed that other than everyone knowing the best point to touch to drop signal, this really isn't any different than other phones out there, so, nothing to fix.

He said that it's no different than other phones. But many independent tests have shown that the amount of signal attenuation is significantly lower with other phones. I haven't seen a test showing any other phone even coming close.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandau

But the good point of this whole thing is: those complaining loudest (most likely non-owners), you can get a case and STFU, return the phone and STFU, or just STFU.

Funny, it looks like those complaining loudest are probably the ones who led to apple taking this action, you should probably be thanking them.

Actually, when asked if they were planning a redesign, Jobs answer was
"Steve: Were still working on this were happy with the design. were getting a lot of reports from customers that its way better than the 3GS. I dont know what our next antenna design will be maybe our wizards in the antenna lab will come up with something better. But looking at the data, we dont think we have a problem."

hardly a no. Obviously, if they are still selling the iPhone 4, something has to give. Either the extend the free bumper offer or something changes on the phone itself.

If the answer to appease customers is to give away a Bumper, then they might make it part of the product. I didnt think they could give away a Bumper without making case makers upset, but that is apparently not a concern, or at least a major concern.

The next iPhones may simply come with a colour-approrpite Bumper in the box, already on the iPhone 4. This way its included and the customer can remove it at their discretion. Or, since its a ring, you dont put it on the iPhone 4 (so you can still advertise the naked phone, but include it in the accessory area of the box with the headphones, power adapter and USB cable with the Bumper ring.

This leaves the opportunity to still sell other Bumper colours to customers.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

"Look at our phones. They're beautiful. Jony Ive spent 13 years designing it. But for the phone to work, you have to throw this gay-ass cover on it and conceal the fruits of Jony's labor. Why look at a wonderful achievement in industrial design when you can ogle at Hello Kitty's ass?!"

"We knew that you could see bars drop on the phone when you hold it in a certain way, it's a fact..." Steve Jobs"

Not sure I get your question. Yes - REALLY. I really meant it.

They presented actual data and the actual data refutes the notion that this is a wide-spread issue. And against that, they still decided to give away free cases, and to allow refunds with no restocking.

Smart move by Apple. Buy an iPhone before Sept. 30 and you get a free case thrown in. What are the odds they'll sell even more iPhones over the Summer? People love free stuff. Almost enough to make people rush out and get an iPhone while the offer lasts.

To me it makes sense not to apologize, every headline would be "Steve Jobs Says I'm Sorry."

Instead, they're stuck with quotes like, "we want to make all of our users happy."

Why exactly SHOULD they apologize anyway. What the really said is that the data proves there is no wide spread issue, yet we're still giving everyone a free case. To me, that seems pretty generous, and not an 'apology required' gesture.

They presented actual data and the actual data refutes the notion that this is a wide-spread issue. And against that, they still decided to give away free cases, and to allow refunds with no restocking.

They did the right thing, and then some, in my opinion.

The 'right thing' would have been NOT to release/re-enginner a device for which, "We knew that you could see bars drop on the phone when you hold it in a certain way..." - Steve Jobs

I'm holding off buying mine to see if there is a design tweak after Sept. 30th. Although there are some really nice cases out there, personally, I love the look of all my iPhones and the iPhone 4, bare. I accept the hardly noticeable scratches and would hate myself if it actually cracked the glass, but I just can't make myself put a case on it.

I see a lot of people in the queue who "never" had any signal issues! Hypocrites.

You do? You are looking at Apple's online list of people requesting a free bumper - even though the web site isn't even up yet?

Wow. I'm not surprised that people lie here, but it's astounding to see you say something that's so obviously and completely a lie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpluck

So Apple did what it needed to do. This is over IMHO.

It's not over by a long shot. It SHOULD be, but there will still be a lot of whining and complaints and demands that Apple rewrite the laws of physics - and lawsuits. Sadly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by macshark

Those plastic cases cost about 25c to manufacture, though after you factor in the packaging and distribution related expenses, the cost may be in the $1 range.

I've been in manufacturing my whole life. $0.25 isn't even close. Nor is the $10 figure someone else threw out. Based on my manufacturing experience, I'm guessing something like $2, maybe $2.50. Not that it matters. From the perspective of the facts, Apple didn't need to do it - the data supports the fact that ALL phones drop calls. The number of iPhone returns is tiny, so most customers are not seeing a problem. Apple did it for PR. Of course from the perspective of people who are never happy no matter what Apple does, it's not enough. They need a new iPhone that never drops calls no matter what you do - regardless of how much they have to rewrite the laws of physics. The cost of the bumpers couldn't be less relevant (other than the trivial impact on P&L).

Quote:

Originally Posted by grking

I think it is a good move.

I would like to hear from everyone who said that there was no way in hell Apple would ever give away free bumpers though.

I don't remember too many people saying that. Many (myself included) said that Apple SHOULDN'T give away free bumpers, but that's not the same thing. They clearly went for the PR.

However, as long as you're trying to make people stand by their earlier words, where are the people who said that the iPhone was being returned in massive numbers? Where are the people who said it was a massive problem and affected massive numbers of iPhone owners? Where are the people who said that the iPhone was the only phone that dropped calls?

Quote:

Originally Posted by solipsism

And you dont think this is true despite the multitude of videos.

What proof do you have that there is a [design] flaw, which I assume you to mean it would require a total recall of each and every iPhone 4 sold?

The free case, the stats suggesting the issue isnt that widespread, and reiteration of the 30 days return policy is meant to make the whiny ass mob mentality chill the frak out. Thats it.

Its all PR, but rest assured that the CEO of Apple is much more aware of this problem at Apple than we are.

Yes, it's all PR. IMHO, the important part of the press conference was the facts - few iPhones being returned. Less than 0.5% of customers calling to complain. Only a slight increase in dropped calls from the 3G (although I suspect that a lot of those were people intentionally going out of their way to demonstrate the problem). Dropped calls experienced on other smart phones. All of that set the stage for Steve to have said "there's nothing wrong with this phone", but he didn't. He made concessions to appease the whiners. And it appears to be working.

So, in spite of the data above, you're going to insist that there's something wrong with the phone. As I said - some people will never be happy no matter what Apple does. Just return your phone and buy a Droid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonymouse

Well, I think he just showed that other than everyone knowing the best point to touch to drop signal, this really isn't any different than other phones out there, so, nothing to fix. So, get yourself a super expensive case if it's a problem, or return it. You can even buy one just to return if you want to make a statement that way.

Exactly, but that won't satisfy some people. Sadly.

"I'm way over my head when it comes to technical issues like this"Gatorguy 5/31/13

If the answer to appease customers is to give away a Bumper, then they might make it part of the product. I didnt think they could give away a Bumper without making case makers upset, but that is apparently not a concern, or at least a major concern.

The next iPhones may simply come with a colour-approrpite Bumper in the box, already on the iPhone 4. This way its included and the customer can remove it at their discretion. Or, since its a ring, you dont put it on the iPhone 4 (so you can still advertise the naked phone, but include it in the accessory area of the box with the headphones, power adapter and USB cable with the Bumper ring.

This leaves the opportunity to still sell other Bumper colours to customers.

Maybe. I think by Aug/Sept, they will be ramping up their lines to add a new coating to the antenna. Like Steve said, they can't get around physics. And physics says that touching the antenna or touching both will cause more of a problem than wrapping your hand around the phone.

If they really thought that simply holding the phone in that way caused the same problem it caused on other phones, then they know that a bumper doesn't change anything. The Blackberry and the other phones he showed already have a build in bumper...the shell of the phone itself. They know that the issue is touching it. They will adjust it accordingly, but it will take weeks to ramp up. So, free bumpers till sept.

"My 8th grade math teacher once said: "You can't help it if you're dumb, you are born that way. But stupid is self inflicted."" -Hiro.

actually it's exactly the other way around: " Q: Does the refund apply only to Apple branded bumpers? A: Yes, no refund for third-party cases" from macdailynews.

TO JupiterOne

we should be appleinsider buddies! we think exactly the same!

They may indeed be providing a bumper refund, but they will NOT be providing a free bumper with each new purchase (until Sep 30th - or longer perhaps - he left this open-ended). The freebe will be a 3rd party case, because he said they do not have enough bumpers to go around (from the live blog of the event, which may or may not be accurate, of course)

"Look at our phones. They're beautiful. Jony Ive spent 13 years designing it. But for the phone to work, you have to throw this gay-ass cover on it and conceal the fruits of Jony's labor. Why look at a wonderful achievement in industrial design when you can ogle at Hello Kitty's ass?!"

Lots of Apple names were mentioned as being in attendance, some in the front row. Ives was not mentioned.

"My 8th grade math teacher once said: "You can't help it if you're dumb, you are born that way. But stupid is self inflicted."" -Hiro.

1. I bought a Belkin Grip Vue case from best buy because i didnt want to deal with no back or front protection, and now i see i couldve had a free case? ugh, hope they strike a deal with Belkin

2. They're gonna give customers free bumper cases until september 30. HOW ABOUT THE CUSTOMERS AFTER THAT???? Will everybody just start going crazy about antenna problems then?? hmmm sounds to me like apple is planning to do something else about this by then

At the press conference, he said they would decide in September after acquiring more data.

They may indeed be providing a bumper refund, but they will NOT be providing a free bumper with each new purchase (until Sep 30th - or longer perhaps - he left this open-ended). The freebe will be a 3rd party case, because he said they do not have enough bumpers to go around (from the live blog of the event, which may or may not be accurate, of course)

At the press conference, it was said that refunds would be provided to people who purchased APPLE bumpers, not third party cases (any there are very few on the market now anyway).

The freebie will be your selection of Apple and third-party cases/bumpers on the web site late next week You decide which one you want and they will send it to you free.